Public Health Sudbury & Districts will be calling on other health units throughout Northeastern Ontario to join them in a united effort to look at all avenues to address the opioid crisis.
Public Health Nurse Josee Joliet provided an updated report on the crisis as it relates to the northeast stating social distancing due to the pandemic has resulted in reduced services in pharmacies, outpatient clinics and harm reduction sites.
She says that has resulted in increased risks of drug-related overdose and death pointing out the highest rates of deaths have occurred in Sudbury & Districts, Algoma and Porcupine public health units.
She says this is thought to be due to a lower availability of services in rural and remote regions, and isolation since it can be difficult to reach those who are at the highest risk of overdose.
The board passed a motion calling on the northeastern health units to collaborate and coordinate a strategy to access services, expand funding efforts and look at enhancement to direct and supportive services.
